BUFFALO, N.Y. (Interstat) — Josh Norris scored the deciding goal in the shootout, lifting the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday at KeyBank Center. The Sabres earned their fifth consecutive victory. Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson scored in regulation for Buffalo, with Thompson extending his goal streak to six games. Goaltender Alex Lyon made 32 saves and registered an assist. Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist for the Islanders, who forced overtime with Emil Heineman’s tying goal late in the third period. The Islanders fell to 19-17, while the Sabres improved to 16-18. Attendance was 19,070.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (Interstat) — Josh Norris scored the decisive goal in the shootout and the Buffalo Sabres extended their winning streak to five games with a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday night at KeyBank Center. The Sabres, who have surged after a difficult start to the season, improved to 16-18. The Islanders, who have lost three of their last four, fell to 19-17. An announced crowd of 19,070 watched Buffalo prevail in a tense, back-and-forth affair that required extra time. Buffalo goaltender Alex Lyon was the backbone of the victory, turning aside 32 shots through regulation and overtime and stopping two of three Islanders attempts in the shootout. He also registered a rare assist on the game’s opening goal. That goal came from defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who converted a backhand chance on a power play at 1:47 of the first period. The sequence began when Lyon handled the puck behind his net and fired a long pass up the left wing, springing Dahlin on a breakaway. Dahlin deked and slid the puck past Islanders goaltender David Rittich for his fourth goal of the season. The Sabres doubled their lead late in the second period. After sustained pressure in the offensive zone, Tage Thompson collected a loose puck in the slot and whipped a backhand past Rittich at the 16:55 mark. The goal was Thompson’s 18th of the season and extended his point streak to six consecutive games. Josh Doan and Peyton Krebs assisted on the play. New York halved the deficit just 1:23 later. With time winding down in the period, Mathew Barzal took a pass from Anders Lee, drove into the Buffalo zone and snapped a wrist shot from the right circle that beat Lyon high to the glove side. Simon Holmstrom earned the secondary assist on Barzal’s 10th goal of the year, making it 2-1 heading into the second intermission. The Islanders carried the momentum into the third period and finally broke through for the equalizer on a power play. With Buffalo’s Michael Kesselring in the box for slashing, the Islanders worked the puck around the perimeter. Barzal fed Matthew Schaefer at the point, whose shot was deflected in front by Emil Heineman, beating Lyon at 17:31. It was Heineman’s 12th goal of the season. Both teams had chances to win in overtime. Lyon made a critical pad save on Jonathan Drouin in the final minute, while Rittich, who made 38 saves, turned away dangerous attempts from Alex Tuch and Josh Norris to force the shootout. In the tiebreaker, Barzal scored for New York in the first round, but Buffalo’s Jack Quinn answered in the second round. After Lyon stopped Simon Holmstrom, Norris stepped up and beat Rittich with a quick wrist shot to secure the extra point for the Sabres. The game was a physical contest featuring 47 combined hits. The Islanders were penalized four times to Buffalo’s three, with both teams converting once on the power play. New York’s Heineman led all players with 10 shots on goal, repeatedly testing Lyon, who stood firm under pressure. The Sabres, who were projected as a slight favorite by betting markets, now head on the road for a game at New Jersey on Sunday. The Islanders, who saw a two-game point streak snapped, return home to host the Devils on Tuesday. The victory marks Buffalo’s longest winning streak of the season as they continue to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Islanders, meanwhile, will look to rebound from a tough loss where they managed to secure a point despite being outshot 41-34.

Islanders, Sabres Meet in Buffalo With Playoff Implications in Sight BUFFALO, N.Y. (Interstat) — The New York Islanders look to rebound from a narrow loss when they visit the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Saturday night in a matchup of teams jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders (19-15-0) arrive after a 3-2 road defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, which snapped a two-game winning streak. New York has won seven of its last 11 games overall. The Sabres (15-18-0) enter on a high note, having won three of their last four, including a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. A key player to watch for New York is forward Emil Heineman. He scored a goal and delivered five hits in the loss to Detroit, marking his second goal in the last four games. Heineman has been a physical presence, registering 18 hits over his last 10 contests. Buffalo will counter with center Josh Norris, who has been productive lately. Norris had a goal in the win over Philadelphia and has recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) in his last six games. His surge includes a three-point performance (two goals, one assist) in a 5-1 win over Winnipeg on Dec. 1. The Islanders have found recent success by scoring; they have tallied three or more goals in eight of their last 11 games. Buffalo’s offense has also awakened, scoring four or more goals in four of its last six outings. Saturday’s game is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. They will meet again at UBS Arena on March 12. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, the projected final score is Sabres 4, Islanders 2. Following this game, the Islanders return home to face the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. The Sabres embark on a quick road trip, playing at New Jersey on Sunday. The puck drops at 7 p.m. EST.